The gay conservative group GOProud doesn’t regret inviting real-estate mogul and possible 2012 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to speak at a conservative conference last week, even though he donated $50,000 to former White House Chief of Staff and Democratic Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel.
“We have absolutely no regrets in inviting and promoting Mr. Trump at CPAC,” GOProud Chairman Christopher Barron told The Daily Caller. “Why in the world would we? Mr. Trump stole the show on Thursday, brought new energy and enthusiasm to the conference and delivered a hell of a speech.”
Trump was a last-minute surprise addition to the list of speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where presidential hopefuls traditionally test the campaign waters in front of thousands of activists. Barron said at the time that he “would love to see Mr. Trump run” and Trump has said that he is “absolutely thinking about it.”
Trump’s speech at the conference caused a ruckus among some younger members of the crowd when he said that Texas Rep. Ron Paul had “zero chance” of ever being elected president.
Barron added that Trump’s choice could be justified, given the alternative in the race.
“Would it have been better if he gave $50,000 to Carol Moseley-Braun?” he said, referring to Rahm’s arguably more liberal opponent.